What is the process called that records where a piece of evidence is first found and everyone who handles it afterward?

• A. Evidence chain of custody
• B. Chain of custody
• C. Custody log
• D. Chain of evidence

Answer: (B)

The main concept is maintaining a chain of custody—the documented, unbroken record of where evidence is found and every person who handles it from discovery through all transfers, storage, and analysis. This ensures the item’s integrity and supports admissibility in court by showing no tampering or loss occurred, with details such as who collected it, when and where it was found, a description of the item, and each transfer or handling event. The standard term used in law enforcement and courts is chain of custody because it precisely describes the entire process of custody and transfer; other phrases like chain of evidence are common but less formal, and a custody log is only a record, not the full, ongoing process.